Former Gators coach Urban Meyer reacts to the Yahoo story about Miami

Former Florida football coach Urban Meyer said that if the allegations made by former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro against the school are true it will hurt the Hurricanes' recruiting badly.

On Tuesday, Yahoo Sports released an in-depth investigative piece focusing on Shapiro's allegations that, among other things, he paid over 70 former and current Miami players what totaled to millions of dollars since 2002.

"If it is true, and if there were coaches involved, it will be devestating to Miami," Meyer said on ESPN Wednesday morning. Meyer is now a college football analyst for that network.

Of the many allegations in the story, Meyer said the one that most caught his attention is that several Miami assistant coaches knew what was going on.

"Of all the things said, that a coach was aware is the most disturbing to me," Meyer told ESPN. "If that is true, that person can not coach.

"If they knowingly and willingly were involved in these allegations they can not coach again."

However, Meyer also said that the source of the allegations needs to be examined closely. Shapiro is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme.

"The first thing I would do is take a look at who is making the allegations," Meyer said. "You're looking at a convicted felon.

"Before everybody jumps to conclusions everybody deserves a chance to see how true this is, and if it is true it is a major, major issue."